Assessment of capability of fetal and adult neural stem cells to differentiate into endothelial cells

Neural stem cells exist in various regions of the developing and adult central nervous system (CNS). They are undifferentiated cells, capable of both self-renewal and producing neurons and glial cells. In addition to generating different types of neural cells, NSCs are capable of producing cells of other tissues. In this study NSCs were isolated from mouse brain and their capability of differentiation into endothelial cells was evaluated. Neural stem cells (NSCs) were isolated from lateral wall of the lateral ventricle of the adult and fetal mouse brain and cultured in serum-free DMEM-F12 medium in the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and B27 supplement. Neurospheres were plated on the fibronectin coated culture slides. DMEM-F12 media supplemented with 10% FBS was used for differentiation of NSCs into endothelial cells. Differentiated cells were evaluated by Immuno-histochemistery, RT-PCR and tube formation assays. The results of this study revealed culture of fetal neural stem cells in fibronectin coated and also DMEM-F12 media containing 10% FBS led to differentiation of NSCs into endothelial cells. When differentiated cells were transferred into extra cellular matrix or matrigel, they produced capillary like structures characteristic of endothelial cells. The results of immuno-histo-chemistry and RT-PCR showed differentiated cells can absorb low density lipoproteins and express CD31, VE, cadherin and Flk-1 genes, and also can adhere to BS-1 lectin. Unlike neural stem cells isolated from mouse fetus, the isolated cells from adult mouse brain did not differentiate into endothelial cells. This study reveals neural stem cells isolated from fetal mouse brain and adult mouse brain do not show similar behavior in differentiating into endothelial cells.